Category Archives: Bar

After a very successful Imbibe Live 15, Bonzer® are keen to return to the show this year and create something bigger and better on the Bonzer® Stand. So this year we have extended our product range, increased the size of the stand, added a bar and included a game of #CocktailPong.

The bar will be run in conjunction with Ladies and Gentleman Bar, Kentish Town powered and by Vestal Vodka™. Following a successful collaboration with Vestal Vodka™ to launch the Heritage Range, we liked the craft spirit so much we decided to include a range of delicious vodka cocktails at the bar to quench the thirst of our visitors.

Excellent cocktails require great tools and even greater skill. For this reason we are using the excellent mixologists from Ladies and Gentlemen Bar, Kentish Town to mix up 4 great cocktails for you to try. There will be hands on demonstrations of Bonzer® Barware during the show, plus you’re more than welcome to do some mixing and shaking with the quality kit yourself!

It wouldn’t be a proper exhibition without giveaways and a competition. So with this in mind we have jumped on the beer pong trend and created our own #CocktailPong. Just throw our brand new Jerry Spring Whisk into the waiting shaker tins. If you succeed then you can keep the spring whisk to achieve a perfect foam when using egg whites. Don’t forget to take a picture and post it on social media for a chance to win bigger prizes!

All of this before we have even mentioned the great range of tools on offer to see, touch and discuss using in your bar! New products including the Jerry Spring Whisk, Telescopic Bar Spoon and Heritage Cocktail Strainers.

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It’s hard to think of certain types of cocktail without fictional secret service agent James Bond being brought to mind. This is particularly the case with Martinis , or any cocktail which is ‘shaken and not stirred’. Throughout the many novels and film adaptations, the suave MI6 operative has enjoyed numerous classic cocktails, sometimes even with an original twist of his own creation. With the latest film in the series, Spectre being recently released, we thought it would be the perfect time to run through some of the finest cocktails that Bond has enjoyed over the years, and often popularised in the process. So, let’s take a look at the favourite cocktails of James Bond 007, starting with the first book he appeared in Casino Royale in 1953, all the way through to 2015’s Spectre movie.

Casino Royale Americano and Vesper Martini
In this original entry of the James Bond series, he orders his first cocktail the Americano.An Americano is often enjoyed before a meal and has a long history dating back to the 1860s. It was originally called the Milano Torino due the origin of its primary ingredients, but was later renamed as it proved to be highly popular with American tourists during prohibition. The drink is also enjoyed in the subsequent books From Russia With Love and For Your Eyes Only . Later on in the story, Bond orders a Vesper Martini a drink of his own invention, but one which is still enjoyed today.

Americano ingredients and recipe:
● 1 ounce of Campari
● 1 ounce of sweet vermouth
● Club soda
● Lemon twist or a slice of orange
● Ice cubes
❖ Pour the Campari and sweet vermouth into an ice cube filled Old Fashioned glass
❖ Add the club soda to taste
❖ Garnish with the lemon twist or slice of orange

Diamonds Are Forever Old Fashioned, Black Velvet, and Stinger
In Diamonds Are Forever , bond makes his way through a fair share of cocktails. The Old Fashioned makes an appearance as it also does in Live and Let Die and Thunderball . So too do the lesser known Black Velvet and Stinger cocktails which we also take a look at how to create below.

Old Fashioned ingredients and recipe:
● 3 ounces of bourbon whiskey
● A couple of dashes of Angostura bitters
● 1 sugar cube
● 2 slices of orange
● 1 Maraschino cherry
● Ice cubes
❖ Place the sugar cube into an Old Fashioned glass and pour the bitters onto it
❖ Add one of the slices of orange
❖ Use a cocktail muddler to muddle these ingredients together
❖ Fill up the glass with ice cubes
❖ Add the bourbon whiskey
❖ Stir the ingredients together
❖ Garnish with the second slice of orange and the Maraschino cherry

Stinger ingredients and recipe:
● 1 ¾ ounces of Brandy
● ¾ of an ounce of white crème de menthe
● Crushed ice
❖ Add the crushed ice into an Old Fashioned glass
❖ Pour the brandy and white crème de menthe in and stir together

Thunderball Rum Collins
The Rum Collins is a variation on the classic Tom Collins cocktail which dates back to 1876. It is the Caribbean version of the drink and is sometimes known as the Ron Collins, due to the word Ron meaning rum in Spanish. It’s the ideal drink for Bond to enjoy while in Palmyra, Bahamas home to his nemesis in the movie, Emilio Largo.

Dr. No Dry
Vodka Martini
The Dry Vodka Martini is surely James Bond’s most famous cocktail of choice and is the drink which brought the phrase ‘shaken and not stirred’ to public notoriety. In the movie, the phrase is spoken by the film’s namesake villain Dr. Julius No, and Bond (played by Sean Connery) doesn’t actually utter it himself until the Goldfinger film of 1964. Whatever its origins, it’s remained a classic cocktail to this day and is now as popular as the Gin Martini that it originally evolved from.

Dry Vodka Martini ingredients and recipe
● 1 ½ ounces of premium vodka (do not use a cheap substitute in this cocktail)
● ¾ of an ounce of dry vermouth (the less vermouth used, the drier the Martini will be)
● A lemon twist or 3 olives
● Ice cubes
❖ Pour the vodka and vermouth into a mixing tin filled with the ice cubes
❖ Shake the mixture don’t stir it!
❖ Strain off the liquid into a chilled Martini glass or else a cocktail glass
❖ Garnish with the lemon twist or olives

Goldfinger Mint Julep
The film and novel Goldfinger is named after its antagonist, Auric Goldfinger. He and Bond meet at his horse ranch in Kentucky, so aptly enjoy a cocktail that is still consumed to this day in very large numbers at the annual Kentucky Derby a mint julep.

Mint julep ingredients and recipe:
● A handful of mint leaves
● 2 sugar cubes
● 2 ½ ounces of bourbon whiskey
● A sprig of mint
● Crushed ice
❖ Place the mint leaves and sugar cubes into a pewter julep cup, Collins, or double Old Fashioned glass
❖ Use a muddler to muddle the mixture until the sugar has broken down
❖ Add the bourbon whiskey
❖ Add the crushed ice and stir
❖ Garnish with the spring of mint
Risico may be an unfamiliar title to all but the most dedicated Bond fans. It is actually part of the short story collection For Your Eyes Only. In the book, the Negroni in question is enjoyed with a generous splash of Gordon’s Gin.

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service Vodka Tonic with Angostura Bitters
If you’re busy fighting the world’s most devious criminals, you don’t always have too much time to create complicated cocktails, so most of James Bond’s drinks of choice are usually very quick to prepare. None more so than the Vodka Tonic he enjoys in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service , which is accentuated with a little Angostura bitters.

Vodka Tonic with Angostura bitters ingredients and recipe
● 2 ounces of premium vodka (do not use a cheap substitute in this cocktail)
● Tonic water
● A couple of dashes of Angostura bitters
● A wedge of lime
● Ice cubes
❖ Pour the vodka into an ice cube filled highball glass
❖ Add tonic water to taste
❖ Add the Angostura bitters
❖ Garnish with the wedge of lime
Die Another Day Mojito Die Another Day is a film that is not based on an original novel by James Bond creator and author Ian Fleming , but the filmmakers made sure there are plenty of Bond trademarks in it, including a classic cocktail. As much of the film is set in Cuba, this time it’s appropriately enough a Mojito.

Mojito ingredients and recipe:
● 2 ounces of light rum (do not use a cheap substitute in this cocktail)
● Club soda
● 2 teaspoons of sugar
● A handful of mint leaves
● 1 lime cut into two halves
● A sprig of mint
● Ice cubes
❖ Add the mint leaves, sugar, and a splash of club soda into a highball glass and muddle with a
cocktail muddler until the sugar has dissolved
❖ Squeeze both halves of the lime into the glass, then leave one half in the glass
❖ Pour in the rum, stir the mixture, then add the ice cubes
❖ Top up with the remaining club soda and garnish with the sprig of mint

Skyfall and Spectre
In the previously released Bond film, Skyfall , there was a little bit of a public outcry as Bond’s official drink of choice in the film was… Heineken. Yes, that’s right, a bottle of lager! This was obviously a classic example of sponsored product placement, but many viewers just didn’t seem to think it fit with Bond’s image even though in the novels he was occasionally partial to Löwenbräu, Red Stripe, and Miller High Life, so perhaps this is not so out of place after all. In the most recent film Spectre, Bond thankfully returns to form, indulging in the iconic vodka Martini as well as numerous other Champagne and whiskey drinks. This time the vodka in question is the premium brand Belvedere , so we imagine product placement was again in full swing. At least it was a bit more in line with his traditional image on this occasion!

At Bonzer we love to create classic cocktails and stock the cocktail supplies you need to make all manner of exotic drinks, so if you have any questions about our cocktail equipment , cocktail accessories, or any of our other products or services, please email sales@mitchellcooper.co.uk or call us on +44 (0)1825 765 511.
So, why not treat yourself to one of the James Bond cocktails mentioned above and let us know how you fared in the comments section? After all, you only live twice!
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Guy Fawkes Night is fast approaching and with it come the familiar sights and sounds of crackling fires, sparkling fireworks, and trails of smoke. At Bonzer, we always look for any excuse to fashion themed cocktails and with this in mind, we’ve decided to share some of our best Fireworks Night cocktail recipes. Whether you’re huddled around the local public bonfire, entertaining in your garden at home, or serving your customers in your establishment, these Fireworks Night cocktails will be sure to wow your guests. So without further ado, we run through our favourite Guy Fawkes Night cocktail recipes.

Old Smokey Old Fashioned

This smoked cocktail reinvigorates the 19th century classic and incorporates real hickory wood smoke for a true, authentic smoked flavour and an exciting visual display.

Ingredients and equipment:
● 60ml of bourbon
● 2 dashes of Peychaud’s Bitters (Angostura Bitters will also work)
● A few dashes of plain water
● 1 sugar cube
● Ice cubes or ice balls
● A portable smoker and smoking chips (ideally hickory)
● A jug or ‘pitcher’
● A decanter
● An ‘Old Fashioned’ glass or tumblerDirections:
● Take a jug or pitcher and add the bourbon, Peychaud’s Bitters, water, and the sugar cube.
● Muddle the mixture with a cocktail muddler until the sugar cube has dissolved.
● Fire up your portable smoker with the smoking chips.
● Feed the smoke into the decanter and cover, so as to not lose any smoke.
● Pour the bourbon mixture you have blended into the smokefilled decanter and swirl to mix.
● Add the ice cubes into an Old Fashioned glass or tumbler.
● Pour the smoky bourbon mixture into the glass. As you pour the drink, the smoke will overflow and spill across your bar, stunning your guests. Once it
has subsided, the smoky taste will remain, infused into the drink.

Flaming Jacko’ Lantern

Watch the back of your throat with this one! A true winter warmer that will fuel any Fireworks Night celebrations.

Ingredients and equipment:
● 10ml of Kahlua
● 10ml of Bailey’s Irish Cream
● 10ml of white tequila
● A sprinkle of cinnamon
● 1 shot glass
● A lighter or match.Directions:
● Pour the Kahlua into the shot glass.
● Carefully layer the Bailey’s Irish Cream over the Kahlua using the Bonzer bar spoon.
● Carefully layer the tequila over the Bailey’s Irish Cream in the same way.
● Sprinkle the cinnamon on top of the tequila.
● Light the tequila on fire with a lighter or match.
Once alight, brace yourself and down this small but fiery fusion. We call this the Flaming Jacko’ Lantern as it tastes like a warm pumpkin pie. Just be careful and don’t have too many, or you’ll wake up with a very dry throat!

So, if you’re planning to play host at this year’s Bonfire Night celebrations, be sure to try out one or all of our popular cocktail recipes. We guarantee you will receive a glowing review! Let us know if you have any suggestions or if you have any Fireworks Night cocktail recipes that you think we should know about.
If you would like to find out more about our cocktail recipes, our cocktail equipment and cocktail accessories, or any of our products or services, please email sales@mitchellcooper.co.uk or call us on +44 (0)1825 765 511.

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Since the 1930’s, Bonzer has been leading the way in the cocktail industry and even inventing new bar equipment in the process, such as the Hawthorne Strainer and the Twisted Bar Spoon style. In our latest advancement in the field of cocktail equipment, we are proud to announce our brand new Heritage Range Cocktail Strainers.
The Heritage Range consists of four cocktail strainers which are designed with performance and style in mind, namely: the Hawthorne Strainer, Fine Strainer, Julep Strainer, and the Sprung Julep Strainer. Here, we take a look at the individual features of each of the strainers and examine how they can be used to their fullest to make perfect cocktails every time.

Bonzer Two Ear Heritage Hawthorne Strainer

The Bonzer Two Ear Heritage Hawthorne Strainer is the ideal all round cocktail strainer and is a refinement of the industry standard Hawthorne Strainer that Bonzer first invented. Its weight is evenly balanced and its distinctive ‘Devil Horn’ shaped prongs or ‘ears’ rest on the mixing tin for a firm and tight fit. It has an antique style spring which helps it to stay snug and also prevents any ice overspill. Made in the UK, this strainer is highly durable and is the result of years of refinement.

Bonzer Heritage Sprung Julep Strainer

The Bonzer Heritage Sprung Julep Strainer makes it easy to quickly switch between drinks, and its antique style spring provides a rigid fit that ensures ice cannot escape. As this strainer has no ears, you can strain directly from the glass, and it works best when creating drinks which are stirred and not shaken. Back in their aviation heyday, Bonzer provided the official barware for Concorde , and a similar strainer was a permanent guest aboard all their flights, ensuring its passengers were suitably well looked after and relaxed. This flexible and efficient strainer is still lovingly made in the UK.

Bonzer Heritage Julep Strainer

The Bonzer Heritage Julep Strainer is perfect for throwing drinks, as it features a unique ridge design which allows for more control when pouring. Its one piece design ensures it is both hygienic and durable, and will be your bartender’s best friend for years to come.

Bonzer Heritage Fine Strainer

The Heritage Fine Strainer has a wide collar and a fine mesh, which has been designed for straining drinks that have been shaken. The round base of the mesh means the flow won’t be impeded by a buildup of waste, so nothing gets in the way of your creation.

Bonzer Heritage Strainer Set

The complete Bonzer Heritage Strainer Set provides even the most adventurous bartender with the tools they need to create all types of classic and modern cocktails. Whatever drinks are requested, you can be sure that the Heritage range offers a complete practical solution that will look after your customers and your bar for many years to come.

Various finishes available

All Heritage Strainers are available in a choice of four finishes: gold, copper, silver, and stainless steel.Gold : gold is known for its ability to never tarnish, and these gold plated strainers will last a lifetime, but will also give your bar the look of luxury that can set it apart from the competition.Copper : the copper strainers are copper plated and are perfect for fashionable establishments which want their barware to stand out from the crowd, while still keeping a sense of authenticity.Silver : our silver strainers are electroplated with nickel silver and so remain hard wearing, whilst retaining that feeling of premium, old fashioned class.Stainless steel : these strainers are made from food grade 304 stainless steel and as such are dishwasher safe and designed to withstand even the most busy of commercial establishments.

Which cocktail strainer is right for you?

The Heritage Range includes strainers for all types of mixology, however each has its own advantages and limitations when making cocktails.

In general, Hawthorne strainers tend to be most suitable when using mixing tins, but are harder to clean then Julep strainers.

Julep strainers usually work best when using cocktail glasses rather than tins. The are easier to control and easier to clean, but can be slower to use.

Fine mesh strainers are best used when you need to create a perfectly smooth cocktail.

You’ll probably find a use for each of these in your bar, so why not buy the Strainer Set and find your own personal favourite!

Designed with your business in mind.

We created the Heritage Range so that establishments could have a set of tools that covered all manner of cocktails. Each strainer is unique in design and function, but they all share some similar features.

All Heritage Strainers feature a curved and comfortable ergonomically designed handle, which allows you to use whatever straining method you prefer. Furthermore, the wide handle provides the perfect space for branding that will be seen clearly by your customers, and will be uniform across the range.

Should you so desire, we can brand your products using screen printing, pad printing, etching, engraving, or impact branding.
All Heritage Strainers come in retail packaging, either boxed individually, or as part of a full set.

Form and function combined

Our years of experience have allowed us to understand the exact needs of the professional mixologist, so we designed these strainers with you in mind. As you are no doubt aware, the appearance of an establishment is often judged as much as the quality of the cocktails it produces, and with the Heritage Range, you can be sure your customers will have a positive first impression and will feel in expert hands.

So, if you’re appetite has been whetted and you would like to find out more about our Heritage Range Cocktail Strainers, please email us at sales@mitchellcooper.co.uk or call us on +44 (0)1825 765 511.

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Recently we looked at some of the products that made a big impact in 2014. Now, we want to look forward and take a look at the products that we’re most excited about in 2015, including brand new ranges (PressDome, Nemox Gelato) and fresh versions of classic products (Bonzer Heritage Barware, Bonzer Portioners). So, without further ado, here are five Bonzer products to keep an eye out for over the next 12 months:

1. Bonzer Heritage Barware

We are always looking to build on our range of barware products. In 2014 we released four brand new Barware Kits as well as unique items like the Coolbar Glass Froster, Aladin 007 Cocktail Smoker and Ice Ball Mould. In 2015 we are going to start the year by launching our Heritage Barware range in April. The range will consist of four strainers and will take its design influence from previous and current Bonzer barware products, offering a uniform appearance and shared handle design. They will be packaged in craft cartons with large black images of the products printed on the front.

Here’s a sneak peek of the range:

2. Pac ‘n’ Vac Storage Containers

Fresh from winning the Food Preparation Equipment Award at last year’s The Caterer’s Product Excellence Awards, we are expecting a big year for our Pac ‘n’ Vac range of vacuum storage containers. Available in a variety of sizes and guaranteed to keep your food fresh for longer, the containers are being picked up by customers both UK and overseas, with recent new fans including The Restaurant Group (Frankie & Benny’s / Garfunkel’s) adding them to their kitchens.

3. Nemox Gelato

We exclusively launched the Nemox Gelato in the UK last year and are very happy to see its popularity grow. Dubbed “the ice cream machine of the future”, it’s a product that can deliver artisan-crafted ice cream for even the most discerning of diners.

4. Bonzer PressDome

The Bonzer PressDome is a brand new product for 2015. A range of vacuum lid covers that form a strong seal to retain both freshness and heat. They are proving extremely popular in the healthcare industry, with both hospitals and care homes seeing how they help them deliver better quality food.

5. Bonzer Portioners

More and more businesses in the bar and catering industries are looking at portion control as a way of reducing costs. This is one area where we were ahead of the curve. Our Portioners have been around for some time now, and offer a great way for catering businesses to reduce costs by using measured portions.

In May we will be launching a new range of Portioners to complement our current range.

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2014 was a great year for Bonzer and our parent company, Mitchell & Cooper. We launched new products such as the Nemox Gelato “ice cream machine of the future”, Coolbar Glass Froster and Pac ‘n’ Vac vacuum storage containers, discovered one of our Can Openers made a trip to Antarctica 70 years ago, built on product ranges like our Bar Kits and Juicers, and continued to build our reputation as an innovative British manufacturer of quality bar and catering products.

In December our Pac ‘n’ Vac Containers won the Food Preparation Equipment award at The Caterer’s annual Product Excellence Awards. Our containers use a unique vacuum valve which allows them to safely store food for up to five times as long as regular storage in a refrigerator. The Pac ‘n’ Vac Containers are available in a range of colours – to aid identification and prevent cross contamination, and a range of sizes – to fit a variety of foodstuffs depending on what you need them for!

Our Bar Kit has become something of a perennial favourite. Our Classic kit – which includes essential bar tools such as a Hawthorne Strainer, Boston Shaker, jiggers, muddler, glass and the Bonzer Bar Spoon – sold well throughout the year, and led us to launch three new bar kits, the Premium, Deluxe and Elite, with each one featuring a different selection of bar tools designed for the requirements and personal preferences of a variety of mixologists and bar staff.

More and more chefs are beginning to see the benefits of using dehydrators to create interesting and unique recipes – you can see some of our suggestions on our blog and our Pinterest – and this has led to the Dehydrator’s popularity growing throughout the year, both with dealers and end users.

We even had a nice surprise thanks to our oldest product earlier this year when a scientific researcher called us to let us know that one of our Can Openers had been found on an Antarctic base, where it had been installed some 70 years previously. The base has now been turned into a museum and visitor centre and we are very proud to say that our Can Opener is still present in the base, which has been restored to its former glory. You can read this story in full here.

Our cup and lid dispensers are easy to clean, reuse and fit a variety of cup and lid sizes. Our Hexdome unit offers the complete solution, with both lid and cup dispensers as well as a professional finish.